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A respectful workplace is one where employees feel safe, believe that they are being treated fairly, and can focus on getting their work done. In a respectful workplace, daily behaviours reflect consideration for others and diversity is valued.

Think about your workplace. Consider the people you work with, company policies, how those policies are put into practice, and the daily interactions between co-workers. Read each set of statements and click to identify the option (a, b, or c) that you believe best describes your workplace environment.

Diversity

A. My workplace is diverse. The make up of the workforce reflects what our society looks like.

B. There is diversity in my workplace but I think that there are also groups that are under-represented, or not represented.

C. My workplace is not very diverse.

Opportunity

A. All jobs and promotion opportunities are advertised internally and externally, and the hiring/promotion practices are fair and consistent.

B. Most jobs and promotion opportunities are advertised internally and externally, and hiring/promotion practices are usually fair, but there is room for improvement.

C. At my workplace, it is all about “who you know”. Hiring and promotion practices are not fair.

Respect

A. Workers feel valued and respected.

B. My workplace is generally respectful but I think there is room for improvement.

C. Morale is very low. Workers do not feel valued and respected.

Management

A. It is easy to talk to management personnel. If you make a mistake or have a problem, you can go to them for help and guidance.

B. The relationship between management and employees is pretty good but there is room for improvement. Employees are sometimes reluctant to seek help and guidance.

C. Employees are afraid to admit when they have made a mistake or need help. It is a very critical workplace environment.

Rapport

A. My coworkers are friendly and accepting of individual differences. Everyone is included in conversations and activities.

B. My workplace is courteous and people generally get along with each other, but there are cliques and some workers have a hard time fitting in.

C. My workplace is not very friendly. There is a lot of gossip and tension.

Cooperation

A. My workplace is very cooperative. People are willing to help out wherever they are needed.

B. At my workplace, people will help each other if they need to, but it would be nice if there was a bit more cooperation and teamwork.

C. Most of the people at work won’t do anything that isn’t part of their job description.

Productivity

A. My workplace is highly productive. Everyone is focused on getting the job done and doing it well.

B. My workplace is reasonably productive but it could be better. People sometimes seem distracted and not focused on the work.

C. My workplace is not very productive. More time is spent arguing and complaining than is spent working and getting the job done.

Policies and Procedures

A. There are clear policies about workplace respect and inclusion. The policies are consistently enforced and every worker knows what is acceptable and unacceptable.

B. There are policies about respect and inclusion but the rules aren’t always enforced and there are a lot of “gray” areas when it comes to what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.

C. I don’t think my company has a policy about respect and inclusion. If there is one, employees don’t know about it.

Training

A. My employer provides every worker with information and training related to respectful and inclusive behaviours, and cultural awareness.

B. My employer provides some information and training about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours and cultural awareness, but more education in this area would be beneficial.

C. There is no respectful workplace, inclusion, or cultural awareness training provided by my employer.

Reporting

A. I would be comfortable reporting any workplace behaviour that demeaned, embarrassed, or discriminated against someone, and I know it would be dealt with appropriately.

B. I would probably report a situation involving disrespectful or discriminatory behaviour, but I am not 100% sure that reporting the situation would help.

C. At my workplace, no one reports unacceptable behaviours. There is a general feeling that reporting won’t accomplish anything and that you might even get in trouble for speaking out.

RESULTS

Each A statement is associated with a respectful, inclusive workplace.

Each B statement identifies an area where there is room for improvement.

Each C statement is associated with an unhealthy workplace environment, where workers may not feel safe, respected, and valued.

Think about the policies, practices and personal behaviours that are reflected in your responses. If you had ten “A” responses, congratulations! Share this quiz with co-workers. Differences in responses can identify areas where attention should be focused. If you did not select “A” each time, consider changes that could be made to improve your workplace culture.

This quiz is part of “Respect and Inclusion in the Workplace”, an online training course available through the Canadian Diversity Initiative. The course is endorsed by Safety Services Canada and is currently in-use by businesses across Canada. For more information, email or visit the website.

About Canadian Diversity Initiative

The CDI is a collaborative online platform where respected non-profit organizations are able to promote diversity and inclusion through education. Visit the CDI website to access online courses from respected brands, including LGBT+ Inclusion in the Workplace, created by the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Indigenous Culture Training by the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute, and more.